New Jersey Representative Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat, has officially entered the race for New Jersey governor in 2025, launching his campaign with a clear message: he will stand up to President-elect Donald Trump and prioritize lowering the cost of living for New Jersey residents.
Gottheimer, who announced his candidacy on Friday, immediately framed the 2024 election results as a significant setback. Speaking at a South Hackensack diner, he declared the outcome “a horrible loss for America” and emphasized the need for unified opposition to the incoming administration. He highlighted President-elect Trump’s stances on crucial issues like abortion rights, environmental protection, and gun safety as key areas of contention, stating that he and other gubernatorial candidates would “stand up to Trump and his extremist attacks on women’s healthcare.” The reinstatement of Roe v. Wade was explicitly mentioned as a top priority.
Beyond his opposition to Trump’s agenda, Gottheimer’s campaign centers around addressing the high cost of living in New Jersey. He described New Jersey’s ranking as the fourth most expensive state to reside in as unacceptable and pledged to make lowering taxes and costs his primary focus as governor. He positioned this commitment as a distinguishing factor within the crowded gubernatorial race, implying that his rivals lack a similar dedication to this issue.
Gottheimer’s announcement throws him into a competitive field on both sides of the aisle. He faces a number of fellow Democrats, including former state Senator Stephen Sweeney, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. The Republican field is equally robust, with contenders such as former gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli, state Senator Jon Bramnick, former state Senator Ed Durr, talk radio host Bill Spadea, and other candidates including Robert Canfield, Jim Fazzone, Hans Herberg, and Robert Bacon all vying for the nomination.
The race promises to be a fascinating battleground, with crucial policy disagreements and a highly visible clash of ideologies likely to dominate the headlines leading up to the 2025 election. Gottheimer’s campaign, with its dual focus on opposing President-elect Trump and tackling the high cost of living in New Jersey, has certainly set the stage for a compelling and potentially pivotal political contest.
